CANTON — The Cherokee County Board of Education unanimously approved Superintendent Dr. Frank Petruzielo’s recommended administrative leadership positions for the 2013-14 school year, which he said continues to leave eight “critically needed” positions vacant for a savings of almost $1 million.

After reviewing proposed changes, the board supported the 2013-14 Organizational Chart. The newly approved list renames some positions to reflect additional work administrators are having to complete and will continue to do, as the empty positions won’t be filled during the 2013-14 school year.

Petruzielo said he could make a strong argument for filling these positions, but the money just isn’t there.

“There are eight critically needed positions that we can’t afford to fill,” Petruzielo said. “We’re doing the best we can with the staff that is left, (but) there is a point where you have to reclassify some existing positions because they have gotten so far beyond the original scope of duties that it just wouldn’t be fair to keep them at a lower level,” Petruzielo said.

Under the changes, Assistant Superintendent of School Operations Brian Hightower will be renamed as Deputy Superintendent for School Operations, Programs and Support.

The new administration changes will take effect July 1.

Despite some claims of high administrative costs, newly elected Vice Chair Robert Wofford said the new chart shows a good picture of the cuts to the central office.

“It lets the teachers know and the parents know that we’re all in this together,” Wofford said.

Petruzielo told the board the misconception about spending is dispelled by the most recent state rankings for general administrative expenses of Georgia school systems.

He said CCSD spends $196 per student and is ranked 11th lowest in the state and the second lowest in metro Atlanta for administrative costs.

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